Hexagram 2: The Receptive → Hexagram 38: Opposition

The Receptive
Earth / Earth
Opposition
Fire / Lake
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 4, 6).

Line 1

初六 履霜堅冰至。

footsteps
shuāngfrost
jiānsolid
bīngice
zhìresults

Six at the beginning means: When there is hoarfrost underfoot, Solid ice is not far off.

Line 2

六二 直方大。不習无不利。

zhístraightforward
fāngsquare
complete
without
practice
without
doubt
worthwhile

Six in the second place means: Straight, square, great. Without purpose, Yet nothing remains unfurthered.

Line 4

六四 括囊。无咎无譽。

kuòtied up
nángbag
no
jiùblame
no
praise

Six in the fourth place means: A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise.

Line 6

上六 龍戰于野。其血玄黃。

lóngdragons
zhànat war
in
wilds
their
xuèblood
xuánindigo
huánggolden

Six at the top means: Dragons fight in the meadow. Their blood is black and yellow.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramEarth FireThe Receptive → The Clinging
Lower TrigramEarth LakeThe Receptive → The Joyous

Yilin Verse

邯鄲反言,兄弟生患。涉叔憂恨,卒死不還。

Handan’s false words; brothers give rise to calamity. She Shu grieves and resents; in the end, he dies and does not return.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Earth upon earth transforms into fire above lake — Opposition. Handan speaks falsely, and brothers are plunged into strife. She Shu grieves with resentment, and in the end dies without returning. Handan, the capital of the state of Zhao, is proverbial for deception and reversed speech. Fire above lake, the image of Kui, depicts two elements that move in opposite directions — fire rises, water descends — the fundamental image of estrangement. The verse traces how a single lie from Handan fractures fraternal bonds: brothers turn against each other, and someone named She Shu (possibly a historical or literary figure) perishes in exile, never coming home. From the Receptive to Opposition, the earth that once united all upon its surface splits into irreconcilable halves. Falsehood is the wedge.

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